Circularly Polarized Antenna Array Layout for Wideband Axial Ratio

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antenna devices face challenges in maintaining good circularly polarized radiation characteristics due to manufacturing errors, mutual coupling between antenna elements, and characteristic fluctuations of phase shifters, especially when using linearly polarized or dual-circularly polarized antenna elements with non-rotated arrangements, which limits their frequency band and axial ratio performance.

Innovation Solution

The antenna device incorporates a first antenna part with multiple antenna elements configured to transmit left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized waves, phase shifters to adjust these waves, and a control circuit to ensure in-phase transmission, along with a power divider and amplitude adjustment circuits to optimize phase and amplitude settings, allowing for rotated antenna element orientations and improved radiation characteristics across a wide frequency band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If linearly polarized or dual-circularly polarized antenna elements with non-rotated arrangements are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the frequency band and axial ratio performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna element arrangementVSAvoidfrequency band and axial ratio performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna elements rotatable around the vertical axis, allowing the orientation angles to be dynamically adjusted according to the desired beam scanning direction. This dynamic adjustment enables the antenna to adapt to different frequency bands and maintain optimal axial ratio performance, resolving the contradiction between simple fixed arrangements and adaptable performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameters of the antenna elements by rotating them to specific angles based on the beam scanning direction. By adjusting the orientation angles of the antenna elements, the system can optimize performance across different frequency bands and maintain good axial ratio characteristics, thus resolving the contradiction between simple non-rotated arrangements and adaptable performance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If phase shifters are used to control beam scanning, then the beam scanning capability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to characteristic fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam scanning capabilityVSAvoidphase shifter characteristic stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by rotating antenna elements at different orientations rather than using identical fixed arrangements. This asymmetric configuration, combined with phase shifter control, creates a more robust beam scanning system that is less sensitive to phase shifter characteristic fluctuations, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining beam scanning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna elements rotatable around the vertical axis, allowing the orientation angles to be dynamically adjusted according to the desired beam scanning direction. This dynamic adjustment enables the antenna to adapt to different frequency bands and maintain optimal axial ratio performance, resolving the contradiction between simple fixed arrangements and adaptable performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple antenna elements are used to achieve wide frequency band, then the productivity is improved, but the mutual coupling between elements increases causing harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency band coverageVSAvoidmutual coupling between antenna elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by rotating antenna elements at different orientations rather than using identical fixed arrangements. This asymmetric configuration, combined with phase shifter control, creates a more robust beam scanning system that is less sensitive to phase shifter characteristic fluctuations, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining beam scanning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS20240250408A1Antenna device and wireless device

Publication Date: 2024.07.25 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an antenna device includes a first antenna part, a first power divider, and a first control circuit. The first antenna part includes first antenna elements, first phase shifters for left-handed circular polarized wave, and first phase shifters for right-handed circular polarized wave. The plurality of first antenna elements performs a first transmitting operation of transmitting a transmitting-left-handed circularly polarized wave, and a second transmitting operation of transmitting a transmitting-right-handed circularly polarized wave. The first power divider is couplable with the plurality of first phase shifters for left-handed circular polarized wave and the plurality of first phase shifters for right-handed circular polarized wave. The first control circuit controls phase shift amounts of the plurality of first phase shifters for left-handed circular polarized wave and controls phase shift amounts of the plurality of first phase shifters for right-handed circular polarized wave.